Car Bomb Found In London

What police are deeming a potentially very deadly car bomb was found in central London. It was defused by bomb experts but could have cause significant casualties had it detonated. The device was inside a Mercedes and consisted of propane cylinders, gasoline and nails.

Police have defused a car bomb found near Piccadilly Circus in London's West End.

The "explosive device", discovered at 2am, posed a real and substantial threat to the surrounding area, according to a police source.

Specialist officers have made the bomb safe and loaded the car, a silver Mercedes, onto a lorry to be taken from the scene.

Police were alerted this morning to a suspicious vehicle in The Haymarket area in the heart of theatreland, close to Regent Street's popular shopping area.

A witness reported seeing gas canisters being removed from the car, believed to be a silver Mercedes, at around 4am.

The vehicle was covered in a blue tarpaulin as forensic teams examined it.

The area, including Piccadilly Underground station, has been cordoned off and will remain closed for some time, police said.

There is no indication yet who built the device or why. While the British press is calling it a car bomb, the New York Times is only calling it a "suspected" one. You know, it might be any number of things when propane cylinders, gasoline and lots of nails are wired together with a detonator. Maybe a planter, right NYT?